What are you on?

by

medication hb

I’m currently on:

Prozac (fluoxetine) 20 mg

medication prozac

This is Thailand Prozac coz I ran out of Prozac while in Bangkok and had to get my gf to go to a drugstore (chemist/pharmacy) to get it for me at Siam Square. It cost 1100 baht (about RM 110) for a single blister pack of 20 mg Prozac so its more expensive than Malaysia.

medication prozac thai

I take from 2 to 7 capsules every morning (about 40 mg to 120 mg) with an average of 5 capsules (100 mg) for my depression. I know, it’s bad to self-medicate but I’ve been on it for months now and it’s doing me good.

Remeron SolTab (mirtazepine) 15 mg

medication remeron

Remeron SolTab is the new orodispersible (meaning it dissolves in your mouth) version of mirtazepine, another antidepressant which I take at night.

medication remeron soltab

Remeron helps me sleep as well, so I can lower down my nightly dose of benzodiazepines for my insomnia/anxiety.

medication remeron tab

I take one tablet at night with my antipsychotic medication (Risperdal) before I go to sleep. It’s supposed to help with my depression too.

Rivotril (clonazepam) 2 mg

medication rivotril

Rivotril is the only benzodiazepine that I’m taking now – I’m on a taper plan for this too. I take 2 x 2 mg (4 mg of clonazepam) at night for my benzo dependency and I’m trying to get it down to 2 mg within three months.

Risperdal (risperidone) 2 mg

medication risperdal

Risperdal is an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia. My psychiatrist says that I have unusual thoughts and my gf reckons that it’s used to treat my manic phases.

medication risperdal tab

I take one and half tablets every night with my Remeron for 3 mg of Risperdal daily. Risperdal has a nasty side effect that I noticed – it is very difficult to orgasm when steady state plasma concentrations have been reached.

What medication(s) are you on?

]]>

Project Pasta: Bloody Gnocchi

by

gnocchi ingredients

Project Pasta was instantiated this evening on an impulse with my girlfriend. We decided to go to Ting & Ting – a local import specialty shop – to get the ingredients to cook gnocchi (it’s a pretentious Italian word for conk shaped pasta) at the sixthseal.com kitchen.

Bloody Gnocchi recipe:
Barilla Gnocchi
Hormel Real Bacon Bits
500 grams of ground beef
Monini Olio olive oil
San Remo Italian Double Concentrate Tomato Paste
duChef Tomato Puree
Grozette Formaggio da Pasta (cheese)
McCormick Season-All salt
McCormick Mixed Herbs

gnocchi sauce bacon

The sauce was prepared using my gf’s secret recipe of Hormel Real Bacon Bits sautéed in hot olive oil. McCormick Mixed Herbs was also added into the mixture and stirred for about a minute.

gnocchi sauce fry

The resulting olive oil, bacon bits and herb mixture was transferred from the ceramic pot into a frying pan and the entire 500 gram bag of local Ting & Ting ground beef was added and cooked until the beef turned brown.

gnocchi sauce look

This is what the olive oil, bacon bits (the secret to the taste), herb, and ground beef sauce base should look like after cooking with a spatula. It should be noted that constant agitation is necessary to allow even heat to permeate the, er…meat.

gnocchi cook pasta

Meanwhile, another ceramic pot was filled with boiling water and added with salt (McCormick Season-All Salt) in preparation to cook the gnocchi. The gnocchi takes about 14 minutes to cook so it is advisable to do this first if it hasn’t been done already. 😉

gnocchi sauce tomato

Back to the sauce, San Remo Italian Double Concentrate Tomato Paste was added to the ground beef mixture in the frying pan and mixed thoroughly. The ground beef should be slightly brownish at this point if you left the heat on.

gnocchi sauce done

Next step involves the transfer of the ground beef and tomato paste mixture back to the ceramic pot and the addition of duChef Tomato Puree (which she told me is different from tomato paste – to be honest, I can’t tell the difference). The sauce is mixed thoroughly until everything is blended evenly.

gnocchi scoop

The pasta should be cooked at this point so we scooped up the gnocchi into two plates…

gnocchi scoop sauce

…and added the sauce on top.

bloody gnocchi

This is what the gnocchi looks like when it’s done – there is cheese sprinkled on top of the sauce (to taste).

gnocchi end

It was dubbed Bloody Gnocchi and we had it for dinner just now with skim milk. It was delicious!

…and it’s really fun to cook too. 🙂

]]>

Bangkok Transit System (BTS) guide

by

bts

BTS or the Bangkok Transit System is the fastest and cheapest way to get around Bangkok. BTS is a train much like the LRT and they offer airport services via the BTS Skytrain network too.

bts tickets

The BTS trains are operated using a coupon system – the tickets are bought at the respective train stations…

bts turnstiles

…and used in the turnstiles to exit or enter the station.

bts phaya thai

The train station closest to Siam City Hotel Bangkok is Phaya Thai station (3 minutes walk) and the BTS network connects this station to stations which are in Pat Pong, Siam Square, Siam Paragon etc. Basically, you can get to anywhere you want to go in Bangkok city using the BTS.

bts ticket

This is what a BTS ticket looks like – it’s a coin operated vendor machine dispensed magnetic strip card that has a preloaded value onto it. Two train stops costs just 15 baht (about RM 1.50) so it’s the most affordable method to get around Thailand.

bts train

BTS trains are long and relatively new, much like its counterpart in Melbourne, Australia except that it runs on suspended rails instead of on the ground.

bts interior

Here is a peek inside a BTS train. It’s usually packed with people at all times of the hour but the same thing can be said of Bangkok.

bts on nut

Sure, the BTS connects you to strange stations like On Nut and Mo Chit but get around the initial chuckle with the names and you’ll be fine. 🙂

]]>

Coffee Bean Honeydew Ice Blended

by

cb honeydew

Coffee Bean has been my regular hangout for the past couple of days, being the pretentious fuck I am (read related posts to get the joke) and I noticed they had a new promotion going – the Honeydew Ice Blended.

cb honeydew promo

Perfect! Nothing like a nice honeydew ice blended drink to take the edge off the day while seated al fresco with my friends sipping the drink and smoking cigarettes while the Air Pollutant Index (API) breaches the 150 mark. It’s like sipping pina coladas in the Bahamas, I swear.

cb honeydew make

This is perhaps one of the more defining sixthseal.com shots – the obligatory “Hello, I am making your drink, sir” shot.

cb honeydew drink

The Coffee Bean Honeydew Ice Blended goes for RM 12 and comes with a whipped cream topping – it’s a very refreshing drink on a hazy evening. The cake is an Oreo Extreme cheesecake. It’s great too.

cb meet oops frappe

Meet the cast in the making of the Coffee Bean Honeydew Ice Blended post!

(oops…wrong coffee establishment)

That’s actually Frappe.

]]>

Koko, Bangkok

by

koko

Koko is an eating establishment in the busy Siam Square district of Bangkok, Thailand. I went in with MDC coz she was really hungry and it’s the nearest restaurant.

koko interior

Koko seems to be popular with the locals as a lot of Thai natives were in there when we walked in and only one person speaks English.

koko decor

I take that as a good sign for authentic Thai food. The interior of Koko is nicely decorated with interesting pieces like this plant in a test tube.

koko coffee

I had Thai iced coffee (which tastes like the iced coffee over here) and MDC had mineral water since we both had the runs after eating street food the night before. The interesting thing about Thai tube ice is that it’s much smaller in diameter than ours.

koko shrimp

Lunch was ordered a la carte with rice and this is the appetizer which we didn’t order. It’s raw prawns in chilli paste. Koko messed up our order something awful and they don’t speak English (except for one person, and he wasn’t that good) so it was certainly an interesting experience.

koko macaroni

Macaroni cooked in Thai sauce was served up (which we didn’t order) and the waiter took it away and gave it to the guy behind us (who ordered it). Koko really needs to get their orders right.

koko curry

This is curry pork which we DID order for once. 😉 It’s really good – the pork makes all the difference in the curry – and that’s the verdict from MDC and me.

koko morning glory

We also ordered a dish of morning glory stalks which was really sweet and has an interesting texture.

koko chicken

The other dish we ordered is deep fried chicken which was alright. Koko serves good food but I cannot recommend it based on the mixed up orders which happened at an appalling rate.

The lunch set us back about 600 baht or so (RM 60) so it’s not cheap either…

]]>

McDonalds in Thailand

by

mcdonalds thailand

McDonald’s in Thailand has one important menu item that Malaysia doesn’t – pork. The Thai sure love their pork (and mangos) over here. I make it a point to go to McDonald’s in every country I visit (and managed to drag MDC with me despite her new found reluctance for all things McDonalds).

mcdonalds interior

The McDonald’s at Siam Paragon (the newest shopping center in Bangkok) has a nice interior – there is ample seating and iPod stations for listening to music. I checked out the Thai McDonald’s menu and couldn’t read it so I got passed and English menu. I found four different menu items – McSalad Shaker, Samurai Pork Burger, McPork Burger and Pepper Chicken Burger and ordered them all.

Samurai Pork Burger (66 baht)

samurai pork burger wrapper

The Samurai Pork Burger was ordered as a large value meal so it came with fries and Coke. The Samurai Pork Burger is wrapped in an appropriately aggressive red wrapper.

samurai pork burger

Samurai Pork Burger consists of a pork patty topped with mayonnaise and lettuce. I don’t know what’s so Samurai about this concoction but it tastes great eating pork. Malaysia doesn’t server pork due to religious considerations.

McPork Burger (19 baht)

mcpork burger wrapper

McPork Burger! I just love the name. McPork! McPork! McPork!

mcpork burger

The McPork Burger is the lower end offering (equivalent to a no frills cheeseburger) priced at 19 baht (about RM 1.90) and it comes in a purple wrapper and has pork in it. Mmm…(Mc)Pork.

Pepper Chicken Burger (23 baht)

pepper chicken burger wrapper

MDC ordered this one coz I ordered all the pork. The pepper chicken burger comes in a blue wrapper and tastes like chicken. 😉

pepper chicken burger

Pepper Chicken Burger in Thailand is not slathered with pepper sauce but rather grounded pepper on a deep fried crumbly chicken patty. It’s alright, but it’s not pork.

McSalad Shaker (32 baht)

mcsalad shaker

McSalad Shaker is the current promotion in Thailand and it’s salad in a plastic container with a choice of “Salad Cream” (mayo) or 1000 Island Dressing.

mcsalad shaker contents

The McSalad Shaker in Thailand has REAL HAM as in ham made out of pork like God intended it to. MDC says it makes all the difference in the salad. It certainly made it very savory.

mcsalad shaker dressing

I put the Salad Cream into the McSalad Shaker…

mcsalad shaker shake

…and shook it as per the instructions. It was quite fun actually, or perhaps I’m just retarded.

mcsalad shaker shaken

This is what the McSalad Shaker looks like after it’s been…er, shaken.

mcsalad shaker done

MDC and I agreed that it tasted great. They have cherry tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and most importantly – ham!

mcdonalds end

McDonald’s in Thailand is great if you have a hankering for pork since we don’t get pork in Malaysia.

]]>

Joanne Wee

by

joanne wee

I’m going to take a break from the Bangkok posts and present an XX Chromosome post for the guys. This is Joanne Wee – hairstylist to be (she cut my hair, but that’s another post).

joanne wee tattoo wrist

Joanne has a really cool tattoo on her wrist that looks like a timepiece.

joanne wee tattoo angel

She also has one on her chest (same place I have my phoenix tattoo) – an ink piece of an angel / pixie.

joanne wee tattoo tribal

Her third tattoo is at the nape of her head and shows a cool tribal / Celtic fusion piece.

joanne wee me

Joanne is a personal friend of mine so tone down on the negative comments guys. She looks great, and you know it. 😉

]]>

Mango Tango @ Bangkok

by

mangotango

Mango Tango is a dessert specialty shop in Siam Square, Bangkok that found it’s niche in mango desserts. Thailand is famous for its mangos and they certainly like their mangos over here. Mango Tango offers a variety of mango desserts and is a franchise with chains all over the world.

mangotango display

Jia Chui had came here the previous night and she brought me and MDC here coz the Mango Tango outlet was supposedly very delicious – we were not disappointed. The front of Mango Tango has a nice display of fresh mangos and replicas of their mango desserts outside the counter.

mangotango interior

The interior of Mango Tango is divided into two floors with seating arrangements for two and four. Mango Tango is very clean by Bangkok standards and the walls are adorned with phrases proclaiming the benefits of mangos. It has a really nice and cozy ambience.

Mango Tango (130 baht)

mangotango mango tango

Mango Tango is their signature dessert and consists of a halved and partially diced mango served with a side of mango pudding topped with whipped cream and a ball of mango sorbet. It tasted really good – it’s THE must try flagship dish.

Mango Delight (120 baht)

mangotango delight

Mango Delight is a selection of tropical and imported fruits served with huge mango chunks. It’s a great dessert for people who like fruit.

Mango Sticky Rice (100 baht)

mangotango sticky rice

Mango Sticky Rice consists of a scoop of mango sorbet, sliced fresh mangos and mangos with glutinous rice (sticky rice). It tastes surprisingly good – especially the mango mixed with sticky rice…it’s out of this world!

Mango Iceberg (74 baht)

mangotango iceberg

Mango Iceberg is a dish with mango ice cream, milk sago and mixed fruits. It tastes a lot like cold bubur cha cha except it’s full of mangos.

mangotango me mdc jia chui

The Thai sure like their mangos (and pork) and mangos are practically a national dish over here. Check out Mango Tango if you’re in Siam Square – it’s worth every single baht to eat the famed Thai mango desserts.

]]>

God's Absent

by

gods absent

God’s Absent is a counter culture (headshop?) located in Siam Square in Bangkok. The shop sells a lot of cool stuff and comes with the tagline “Nothing’s worst than being ordinary“. It’s a rare find and I got a razor choker and a pen that looks like a syringe in there.

gods absent shop

MDC and me nearly missed our flight (she was so freaking out though technically she had already missed hers) but it was worth it. The proprietor is a nice lady (unconfirmed – going to Bangkok makes me confuses gender sometimes with all the ladyboys ;)) and there’s a lot of interesting stuff in there. The packaging of God’s Absent is a gothic coffin shaped paper bag. Very nice.

sorting head

My apologies for not updating much…sorting out my head.

(but still drug free)

]]>

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...